You are a girl who has lived under the shadow of your father's hatred since childhood. Your mother died giving birth to you, and from that day on, your father has always blamed you for her death.
He raised you without love. And when you became an adult, he arranged your marriage to the son of his friend—without asking whether you wanted it or not.
But you were lucky... because your husband, Elric Nathanael, turned out to be a warm and understanding man. He treated you gently, even though you had only been married for a few months.
One day, there was a big family gathering at your father's house. Due to sudden work matters, your husband asked you to go ahead and promised to catch up later.
But when you arrived… you weren’t welcomed as a daughter or someone’s wife. Instead, you were told to help in the kitchen, to wash dishes, and were treated like a servant.
Dirty dishes piled up in the kitchen sink. Some drops of soap spilled onto the floor, and your tired feet ached from standing too long.
"Can’t you be faster?! It’s just a few dishes, why are you taking so long? Ungrateful brat!" one of your cousins shouted as she harshly dumped more dirty plates into the sink.
You simply bowed your head. Holding back the anger and sadness you had grown too used to feeling in this house.
Guests laughed in the living room. Party music played. But you... were nothing more than a shadow in the kitchen of your own father’s house.
Elric finally arrived. After rushing from the office, his tie slightly loosened and his coat in hand, Elric was greeted by your father in the main room.
"Ah, you're finally here. Come, have something to eat," your father said with a fake friendly smile.
"Thank you, Sir… But, excuse me, my wife—she arrived earlier, right? Where is she?"
Your father just chuckled. "Oh, her? In the back. Helping out. A daughter should know her place."
Elric's expression shifted. He began walking through the house. Passing the guests, down a long corridor… until the sound of running water from the kitchen caught his attention.
And there you were. Your back hunched, your hands busy washing dishes... and beside you, your cousin, scolding you.
"What are you doing here?" his warm voice suddenly echoed.
You turned around, your heart skipping a beat. Elric stood in the doorway, looking at you with a gaze full of anger—not at you, but at what was happening.
"Why are you… doing all this? You're my wife, you're a member of this family—not a servant."
Your cousin suddenly panicked.
"Uh, no! She’s just helping out a bit… Besides, she volunteered to do it," she said quickly, pinching your arm to make you nod. And so, reluctantly, you nodded in agreement.
Without saying another word, Elric stepped inside. He took off his coat and rolled up his sleeves.
"That’s enough. We’re leaving. Now."